Monday, August 21, 2017

Hula Dance Classes Hanover PA Will Get You Singing And Dancing

By Cynthia Richardson


Don't think that you'll be just moving your body around in a grass skirt. When you do this, you chant as well while you do it. It's an essential part of the process. It portrays the words of the oli or mele (chant or song) in a visual dance form. There's a lot more to hula dance classes Hanover PA than you might currently imagine.

Though this art form is ancient and changing all the time, one of the oldest forms is still the most popular, and it has stood the test of time. Before Western people brought their influence to the Islands, kahiko, the ancient form, flourished. There's a chant that people do along with the movements, and they use the same kind of instruments that their ancestors designed, giving a very cultural feel.

Western influence came in, it began to change and shape the way hula was, and it evolved due to this. It is clear that the native people, the more traditional hula dancers, felt that the art was drifting away or wandering. Very fittingly, this specific style is called auana, which means just that, and usually includes a song and Western instruments like the ukulele, guitar, and double bass.

The schools that these lessons are taught at are called halau. You'll find that a lot of these are very traditional, using native terminology and ancient practices. Although there are some that don't do things like this, you might find that most of them do. This might seem daunting to some, like stepping into a different world that they're not familiar with nor comfortable with, but with an open mind, it can be a way to make it a truly unique time and memorable experience.

One of the things that still happens a lot in this kind of class is the practice of doing an entrance chant. This is something that has been done in this culture since ancient times. It's good to know that this is appropriate, and maybe even what some of the popular common chants are, before attending.

The two main positions in dancing like this involve both a sitting and a standing position. The sitting position is known traditionally as soho, and the standing position is called luna. There are dances that involve both of these positions, meaning dancers get up and down a lot, so beware if you have weak knees.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the complexity of many of the hand motions and signals used in this style of dancing. Just know that there are also easier moves that are much simpler for the beginner to start with. That's why it's so important to get yourself a good teacher, because she or he will truly know what's best.

One of the most beautiful things about this is it represents and dramatizes both what is within and without. You will see by learning and participating in it that you are becoming a vehicle of expression for not only the forces of nature, like the wind and the sea, but also what's in the heart. It is empowering to act out both the powers of nature and human emotions.




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